Frame for bags, purses, and the like



June 11, 1935. B. BLACHER FRAME FOR BAGS, PURSES, AND THE LIKE FiledFeb. 1'7, 1954 Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES FRAME FOR BAGS,PURSES, AND THE LIKE Benjamin Blacher, Providence, R. 1., assignor toBlacher Brothers, Providence, R. L, a partnership consisting of BenjaminBlacher and Harry Blacher Application February 17, 1934, Serial No.711,763

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bag frames for handbags, purses and similararticles and consists of improvements in the construction of the same.

One object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of the typeindicated comprising opposite hinged members for closing the mouth ofthe bag and protecting the folded edges of the leather, fabric or othercovering material from which the bag is constructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of the typeindicated having complementary flanges on the opposite frame-membersadapted to meet when the members are folded together to form asubstantially continuous and unbroken covering for the edges of themouth of the bag whereby to enhance the appearance and attractiveness ofthe article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of the typeindicated wherein the shielding flanges are constructed integral withthe frame-members to render the complete article economical tomanufacture by eliminating extraneous parts liable to become loosenedand deranged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag frame of thetypeindicated in which the clasping or locking means for maintaining the bagclosed is formed on the adjoining ends of the flanges to simplify theconstruction of the frame by eliminating separate locking elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a bag frame of the typeindicated an improved method of forming the bent leg portions of theframe-members to secure a more rigid and stronger joint at the bendswhereby/to insure greater rigidity and guard against breakage at thecorners.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of theinvention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-bag embodying a frame constructedin accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the improved bag frame showing itsopposite sections in closed relationship;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the framesections swung into openposition;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the frame showing its parts in position asillustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the parts in position as illustrated inFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the upper portion of the frame; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views through the top of one ofthe frame-members illustrating the method of forming the covering andshielding flange.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a usual style of hand-bagor purse comprising a pouch 2, of leather or other flexible material,having its mouth closed by mating frame-members 3 and 4. 'As in theusual construction of bag frames of this type the members 3 and 4 areformed from strips of sheet-metal bent into channel shape incross-section as shown in Fig. 8. The frame-members 3 and 4 are similarin shape and outline, being provided with a. horizontal top portion 5with legs 6 bent downwardly at rightangles thereto. The terminalportions of the legs 6 are hinged together by suitable means such as therivets 1 herein illustrated.

In the manufacture of the present type of frame-members in which thelegs 6 project at right-angles to the top portion 5 it is the usualpractice to out V-shaped openings in the side walls of the channelextending nearly to the edges thereof and then bend the stock withsquare corners. The edges of the cut-out portions meet in a mitre joint8, see Fig. 6, and are usually soldered together to strengthen thestructure. This method of bracing or strengthening the frame has notproved entirely satisfactory, however, since the solder is liable tocrack and break under any strain tending to bend the legs. It istherefore one object of the present invention to provide an improvedmeans for securing the bent sections of the frame-members in fixedrelationship.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawing, when the V-shaped openings areformed by cutting away the metal of the channeled strips, ears or tabsl9 areleft projecting from the bottom wall thereof. After each leg 8 isbent downwardly in the usual manner the ear I0 is folded over the cornerthus formed and welded or otherwise permanently secured against theinner surface of the connecting wall of the leg. Through this means aparticularly strong, rigid joint between the bent portionsof the frameis secured to resist strains and stresses tending to bend or twist theparts of the frame out of place.

According to the usual practice the edges of the pouch 2 of the bag arefolded or tucked into the space between the channeled side walls of theframe-members 3 and 4 in the manner indicated by the dash lines in Figs.2 and 3 and secured in place by bending the sides of the channel towardeach other. In bags of the present type the edges of the coveringmaterial are bent closely around the relatively thin sharp edges of theframe-members and their sharp folds are subjected to considerable wear,especially at the mouth of the bag, so that the material is liable to Iv the slit between the frame-members.

2 and serving to cover and protect this part of the leather or fabric.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, the inner side wall of thetop portion 5 of each section of the frame is continued upwardlysubstantially half way along its length to provide longitudinallyextending strips H and I2. Referring now to Fig. 8, the strip I2 is bentlaterally of the side wall of the top portion 5 of the frame to overlieits channel, as indicated at i3, and then folded back upon itself at 14to extend in the opposite direction beyond the side wall. The strip i2is then folded or bent back to underlie its horizontal portion [4 thusforming a double or reinforced shield or cover 15 overlying thechanneled portion of the frame member throughout one halfits length. 7

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 when the two sections 3 and 4 are connectedin hinged relationshipthe two flanged portions or shields i5 overlieportions of the sections at opposite sides of the center of the frame.Consequently, when the bag is closed the two flanged portions H and i2aline to form a substantially unbroken shield bridging the top of bothframe-members and t and covering the folded edges of the pouch material.In addition to covering and protecting the folded leather or fabric atthe mouth of the bag, the shield 55 also serves as a guard forpreventing thin articles from sliding out of the mouth of the bagthrough As a further novel feature of the present invention, thecomplementary flanges or shield portions 15 of the frame are constitutedas the clasping means for the bag. The vertical portions of the shieldsI5 are cut away at their inner ends as indicated at It in Fig.6 and theoverhanging ends thereof are formed with interengaging detent-means asnext described.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the end of one shield I5-is formed with asubstantially semi-circular notch or opening 1?, while the end of theopposite shield is provided with a similarly shaped projection or latch18. When the frame-members 3 and 4 are closed together as shown in Figs.1 and 4 the projection l8 snaps into the notch H to securely fasten themouth of the bag against accidental opening. Suitable ball-members 2Bare brazed or otherwise attached to the top of the frame-members 3 and 4in spaced apart relationship to serve as a grip for the fingers inprying the members apart in opening the bag; the

' clasping means yielding for this purpose as the projection l8disengages from the notch 51.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a particularly strong, durable and conveniently operated framefor the mouths of hand-bags, purses and the like having means forprotecting the folded edges of the flexibie pouch material. Theframe-members may be struck up from sheet-metal by stamping operationsand the complete bag frame may therefore be manufactured at relativelysmall cost.

The clasping means for holding the framemembers in closed relationshipis incorporated in the flanged portions of the frame and thus theemployment of separate locking elements such as spring-operated latchesis avoided and the frame rendered more durable in use.

The shield at the top of the frame besides protecting the pouch materialfrom wear, also serves to cover the slit or opening which usually existsbetween the two frame-members and thus the apscribed as embodied in apreferred form of construction, it is to be understood that I do notlimit myself to the exact embodiment disclosed since variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a. frame for bags, purses and the like, the combination of a pairof frame-members constructed of channeled strips bent to form topportions with legs extending at an angle thereto, means for pivotallyconnecting the ends of the legs to adapt the frame-members to swing intoopen and closed position, and an integral strip on the side wall of thetop portion of each framemember extending throughout substantially one:half its length and folded double across the top of the channel in saidtop member and then rearwardly therefrom with its end underlying theupper portion of the strip, said flanged strips being adapted to alinewhen the frame-members are closed together to provide at protectingshield extending across the top of the frame.

2. In a frame for bags, purses and the like, the combination of a' pairof frame-members constructed of channeledstrips bent to form topportions with legs extending at an angle thereto, means for pivotallyconnecting the ends of the legs to adapt the frame nembers to swing intoopen or closed position, an integral strip on the side wall of the topportion of each frame-member extending throughout substantially one-halfits length and folded double across the top of the channel in said topportions and then rearwardly th refrom with its end underlying the upperportion of the strip, and interengaging means on the inward ends of saidstrips for clasping the framemembers in closed relationship, saidflanged strips being adapted to align when the frame-members are closedtogether to provide a protecting shield extending across the top of theframe.

3. In a frame for bags, purses and the like, the combination of a pairof frame-members formed of channel-shaped strips, each framememberhaving a top portion and legs extending at an angle thereto, V-shapednotches in said strips adapted to form miteredjoints where the legs arebent with respect to. the top portion and with portions of theintermediate wallof the channel strip extending beyond the notches andbent downwardly to overlap the corresponding wall of the legs, means forpivotally connecting the ends of the legs to adapt the frame-members toswing int-o opener closed position, and an in: tegral strip on the sidewall of the top portion of each frame-member extending throughoutsubstantially one-half its length and-folded double across'the top ofthe channel in said top portion and then'rearwardly therefrom with itsend underlying the upper portion of the strip, said flanged strips beingadaptedto align when the frame-members are closed together; x

BENJAMIN BLACHER.

